Detachable connected tables with interlocking means



March 29, 1955 c. L. HODGIN 2,705,179

DETACHABLE CONNECTED TABLES WITH INTERLOCKING MEANS Filed March 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l I //x\ \W 60 78 7f 30 Char/es L. Hodg/n INVENTOR.

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March 29, 1955 c. L. HODGIN 2,705,179 DETACHABLE CONNECTED TABLES WITH INTERLOCKING MEANS Filed March 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 92 95/ A I I /04 100 I mfi flail (i I08 Fig. 6

- ram-J Charles L. Hadg/n JNVENTOR.

Ammqs United States Patent DETACHABLE CONNECTED TABLES WITH INTERLOCKING MEANS Charles L. Hodgiu, Carrizozo, N. Mex., assignor of onehalf to Pettys General Merchandise, Carrizozo, N. Mex., a partnership consisting of Ralph Petty and Vernon Petty Application March 5, 1954, Serial No. 414,397 3 Claims. (Cl. 311-4) This invention relates in general to improvements in furniture construction and more specifically to an improved table construction.

While there has been devised many types of expansion tables which permit the enlargement of the area of the main table, the arrangement and adjustability of such table constructions have been very limited and have much to be desired.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved table construction which includes a main table and at least one auxiliary table, the table construction being of a nature whereby the size thereof is limited only by the space in which the auxiliary tables may be positioned as they extend from the main table.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved table construction which includes a main table and at least one auxiliary table, the auxiliary table being so connected to and partially supported by the main table whereby it may be disposed at a desired angle to the main table to conform to the particular surroundings.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved table construction which includes a main table and an auxiliary table, the tables being provided with interlocking connecting means which permits the tables to be quickly and easily connected to each other and removed therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved flexible table construction which may be made of any length and which may curve around corners, columns or other obstacles to utilize the available space in any room or hall.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like Figure 1 is a top plan view of the table construction which is the subject of this invention and shows a main table having connected thereto an auxiliary table, and possible positions of a second auxiliary table being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the table construction of Figure 1 showing the general details thereof, forward positions of supporting legs for the main table and the auxiliary table being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and shows the arrangement of the tops of the main table and the auxiliary table and the manner in which the auxiliary table is connected to the main table;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view showing the specific details of the connection between the auxiliary table and the main table;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the sec tion line 55 of Figure 2 and shows the details of a connecting pin carried by the underside of the main table top with respect to a support arm of the auxiliary'table; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of Figure 2 and shows the details of the manner in which a supporting leg is pivotally attached to the underside of a table top.

parts throughout, and in which: 1

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the table construction which is the subject of this invention includes a main table which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The main table 10 includes a top 12 which is elongated and which has arcurate enlarged end portions 14 of constant radius and straight parallel sides between said end portions.

In order that the main table 10 may be properly supported, carried by the underside thereof are leg assemblies 16 and 18. The leg assembly 16 includes a transverse portion 20 and a pair of integral legs 22. The transverse portion 20 is pivotally connected to the underside of the top 12 by a pair of straps 24 secured to the underside of the top 12 and overlying the transverse portion 20 adjacent its intersection with the legs 22. The transverse portion 20 is provided with an offset intermediate part 26 for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The leg assembly 18 is somewhat similar to the leg assembly 16 and includes a transverse portion 28 which terminates at its ends in legs 30. The transverse portion 28 is pivotally connected to the underside of the top 12 by a pair of spaced straps 32 which underlie the transverse portion 28 intermediate its intersection with the legs 30 and which are secured to the underside of the top 12. The transverse portion 28 includes a central offset part 34 for a reason to be set forth in more detail hereinafter. It will be noted that the leg assembly 18 differs from the leg assembly 16 only in that the transverse portion 28 is longer than the transverse portion 20 so that the legs 30 may be disposed outwardly of the legs 22 when they are in their folded position, as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

As is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, disposed adjacent the straps 24 are L-shaped brackets which are referred to in general by the reference numeral 36. Each L-shaped bracket 36 includes an upper horizontal flange 38 which is secured to the underside of the top 12 and a depending vertical flange 40. Pivotally connected to the vertical leg 40 by a pivot pin 42 is a leg brace 44. The leg brace 44 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 46 which terminates at its end in an offset portion 48. Positioned within the offset portion 48 when the legs 22 are in table supporting position is a pin 50 carried by the associated leg 22. The slot 46 is provided adjacent its opposite end with an offset portion 52 which receives the pin 50 to retain the legs 22 in a folded position.

Although the bracket 36 and the brace 44 have been described only relative to one of the legs 22, it is to be understood that an identical bracket and a similar brace is provided for each of the legs 30.

The table construction also includes at least one auxiliary table which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 54. The auxiliary table 54 includes a top 56 which has an arcuate recessed end portion 58. The arcuate recessed end portion 58 is of the same curvature as the end portions 14 of the top 12 so that the end portions 14 may be selectively received therein. In order that the tops 12 and 56 may be conveniently interlocked, the peripheries thereof are bevelled as at 60 and 62, respectively, as is best illustrated in Figure 3. The opposite end of the top 56 includes an arcuate end portion 64 which is also of a constant radius. The end portion 64 is identical in outline to the end portions 14 and includes a bevelled periphery 66 so that other auxiliary tables 54 may be connected to the auxiliary table 54 which is connected to the main table 10.

In order that the auxiliary table 54 may be partially self-supporting, there is provided a leg assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 68. The leg assembly 68 includes a transverse portion 70 which has connected integrally thereto at the outer ends thereof legs 72. The transverse portion 70 is pivotally connected to the underside of the top 56 by a pair of spaced straps 74 which are secured to the underside of the top 56 and which underlie the transverse portion 70 adjacent its intersection with the legs 72. The intermediate part 76 of the transverse portion 70 is offset for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter.

In order that the legs 72 may be selectively retained in folded and table supporting positions, there is provided adjacent each of the straps 74 a bracket 78. The bracket 78 is identical with the bracket 36 andhas pivotally congetcted thereto a brace 80 which is identical with the brace In order that the auxiliary table 54 may be removably supported by the main table 10, there is provided a brace arm assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 82. The brace arm assembly 82 includes a pair of brace arms 84 which extend outwardly from the underside of the top 56 beyond the recessed end portion 58 and converge at their outer ends. The outer ends of the support arms 84 are connected together by a generally triangular plate 86, as is best illustrated in Figure 4. The triangular plate 86 is provided at its outermost apex with a notch 88.

Carried by the main table and secured to the underside of the top 12 at the exact center of each of the end portions 14 is a pin assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 90. The pin assembly 90 includes an upper mounting flange 92 which is recessed in the underside of the top 12 and suitably secured thereto. Carried by the mounting flange 92 is a depending pin 94. Formed integral with the pin 94 and disposed in spaced parallel. relation with respect to the mounting flange 92 is a supporting flange 96. The supporting flange 96 has a downturned periphery 98 to facilitate the positioning of the apex of the plate 86 in overlying relation thereto with the pin 94 being received in the notch 88.

In order that the support arm assembly locked relative to the pin assembly 90, carried by the plate 86 is a latch member which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 100. The latch member 100 includes an elongated bar 102 which is pivotally con- 82 may be nected to the upper side of the plate '86 intermediate the 1 ends of the bar 102 by pivot pin 104. One end of the bar 102 is provided with a hook 106 overlying the notch 88. The hook 106 is selectively engageable around the pin 94 to retain the support arm assembly 82 in interlocking engagement with the pin assembly end of the bar 102 is provided with a twisted portion 108 which forms a finger-engageable part to permit the ease of pivoting the latch member 100 to a pin releasing position.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the auxiliary table 54 is connected to the main table 10 by merely sliding the support arm assembly 82 underneath the associated end portion 14 of the top 12 and positioning the pin 94 in the notch 88. Then by the use of the latch member 100 the auxiliary table 54 can be locked with respect to the main table 10. Inasmuch as the pin 94 is disposed at the exact center of its associated end portion 14, it will be seen that the auxiliary table 54 may be swung about the periphery of the end portion 14 in opposite directions until it engages one or the other of the sides of the main table top 12 so as to be disposed at a desired angle to the longitudinal axis of the main table 10 between limits of movement established by the sides of the main table top 12.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that each of the end portions 14 is provided with a pin assembly 90. Further, it will be seen that the end portion 64 of the auxiliary table 54 is provided with a pin assembly 90. Due to the provision ofrthe pin assembly 90 on the underside of the auxiliary table 54, other auxiliary tables 54 may be secured to the first auxiliary table 54 to form further extensions of the main table 10.

Inasmuch as it is desired to have the legs of the various tables in the centers of the end portions thereof, and since the pin assemblies 90 are also positioned in the centers of the end portions, in order that the legs may be pivoted to table supporting positions, it was necessary to offset the intermediate parts of the transverse portions of the leg assemblies as hereinbefore described.

Although the main table 10 has been illustrated as double ended with the end portions in alignment, it is 90. The opposite to be understood that the invention is not to be so restricted. If desired, the main table 10 may have a top which may be Y-shaped, cruciform or of any other desired configuration so that auxiliary tables 54 may extend therefrom along various radiating lines. It is also to be understood that the auxiliary tables 54 may either be disposed in alignment or in a sinusoidal arrangement, as desired. Due to the particular construction of the main table 10 and the auxiliary tables 54, it will be seen that they may be readily folded and that they require a minimum of space for storage purposes.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A table construction comprising a main table and an auxiliary table, said main table being self-supporting, said auxiliary table being partially supported by said main table and having an auxiliary support, means releasably connecting said auxiliary table to said main table, said main table and said auxiliary table having interlocked tops, the top of said main table having straight parallel sides and an arcuate enlarged end portion of constant radius, the top of said auxiliary table having a matching recessed end portion whereby said auxiliary table may be swung in opposite directions around said end portion into engagement with one of said sides and into opposite limits of movement established by said sides, an opposite end portion of said auxiliary table top having an enlarged end identical with the end portion of said main table top whereby a second auxiliary table may be attached to said first mentioned auxiliary table.

2. A table construction according to claim 1, including means releasably connecting said auxiliary table to said main table, said means including a headed pin carried by an underside of a top of said main table, a support arm carried by said auxiliary table underlying said main table top and interlockingly engaging said pin above said head, and a releasable hooked latch on said auxiliary table engaging said pin.

3. A table construction comprising a main table and an auxiliary table, said main table being self-supporting, said auxiliary table being partially supported by said main table and having an auxiliary support, means releasably connecting said auxiliary table to said main table, said main table and said auxiliary table having interlocked tops, the top of said main table having straight parallel sides and an arcuate enlarged end portion of constant radius, the top of said auxiliary table having a matching recessed end portion whereby said auxiliary table may be swung around said end portion into engage- .ment with one of saidsides and into opposite limits of movement established by said sides, said means including a pin carried by an underside of a top of said main table, a support arm carried by said auxiliary table underlying said main table top and interlockingly engaging said pin.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,358 Laufer Aug. 17, 1886 r 1,158,125 Fink Oct. 26, 1915 1,167,461 Wilson Jan. 11, 1916 1,411,741 Merdzinski Apr. 4, 1922 2,251,737 Johnson Aug. 5, 1941 2,346,985 Mercur Apr. 18, 1944 2,499,062 Greenberg Feb. 28, 1950 2,556,362 Crumpler June 12, 1951 2,596,663 Duffy May 13, 1952 

